​Studying for a class or exam requires a great deal of energy and focus: both physical and mental. Whether you are prepping for an important exam such as the SAT or ACT, or memorizing those last-minute facts for a final, studying can take a toll on your body and mind.

It is important to find strategies that can help you study more efficiently to ultimately improve your grades. Coffee is one of the world’s most popular drinks and is widely used to manage stress, as well as improve focus and overall productivity. It has several effects on your mind and body. Here are some ways coffee can help you study better and may help you improve your grades.

Different types of coffee

Coffee comes in a variety of types and roasts. Produced and sold all over the world, it can be purchased in a range of roasts from light to dark. Dark roasts are roasted for a longer duration and are richer and bolder in flavor compared to lighter roasts. In addition to the type of roast, the way coffee is ground can greatly affect the taste.

Coffee can be ground more coarsely, which is sometimes used in a French press, or is ground to a very fine powder which is usually how espresso is made. You can modify the taste of coffee to your preference by adding sugar, spices, milk, or cream.

The key ingredient in coffee that has causes the mental effects is caffeine. Lighter roasts and more finely ground coffee will yield the most caffeine which is largely responsible for helping you study better.

Coffee can help you study

Coffee can have several effects on the body and mind. Many people choose to drink coffee in the morning because it has several effects in the brain and can wake you up and make you feel more alert. The beverage works by blocking the chemical signals that make you feel sleepy. It has also been shown to improve memory and recall, which is critical when you are trying to retain facts and concepts for exams.

Coffee can also provide a boost of energy when your body is starting to feel the toll of several hours of studying. In addition to the effects on your body, taking a quick coffee break can improve your focus by helping you break up major sections or chapters, while giving you a boost of energy so you can get through the remaining content.

Java also improves blood flow which may help you if you are sedentary for several hours studying for your classes and exams. Although coffee can help keep you alert and focused, you should limit your consumption to 1-2 cups a day as overconsumption can make you feel jittery, nauseous, and may interfere with sleep and cause insomnia.

The last thing you want is to not be able to sleep before a big exam. If you are having trouble sleeping with coffee, try limiting your consumption to a cup of coffee and try to avoid drinking it in the afternoon and evening.

Preparing and storing coffee

If you only use coffee during exams and are not an everyday drinker, you should store your beans in an airtight container at room temperature. You can choose to grind beans each time you use them. But if you grind your beans in larger batches, you should also store ground coffee in airtight containers at room temperature. Coffee can be used as a stain, so you can use it to create unique stains, perhaps on your coffee storage container, but also be mindful about having coffee around your unfinished wood furniture.

Coffee can help you study and ultimately improve your grades by waking you up, making you feel more alert, and improving your memory. It can also improve your mood and blood flow which can help you feel less stressed while studying.

You should drink as needed but in moderation as consuming too much or too late in the day can make you sick and may cause insomnia. Coffee can ultimately be a great tool to help you improve and maintain your grades.

By Sarah Jones, guest writer. (Bio: We Dream of Coffee is Sarah’s passion project. She started writing about coffee because she wants more people to know about its benefits on the mind and body.)